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Accelerating Sustainability in Telecoms (AST)

Considered as relatively recent but urgent issues, technology, sustainability, and their interconnections have gained increasing saliency in public debate over the past decade. As the backbone of modern society, it is essential that the telecommunications sector adapts quickly to new disruptive technologies without forgetting about sustainability and workers’ rights.

AST

In the aim of discussing this important topic with a focus on the role of social dialogue, Connect europe has partnered with Uni Europa ICTS for the last conference of the Uni Europa AST project, which will take place in Brussels, Belgium on the 4th of June 2025.

 

Morning Session

Chair: Rita Santos, MEO

09:00 – 09:30 Welcome & Registration (30’) – Fabiana Iovino, Connect Europe & Birte Dedden, UNI Europa

09:30 – 10:00 Opening Remarks (30’) – Alessandro Gropelli, Connect Europe Director General & Oliver Roethig, UNI Europa Regional Secretary (online)

10:00 – 10:30 Keynote Addresses: The Role of Social Dialogue in Enabling the Twin Transition (30’)

  • Franca Salis Madinier, CFDT-Cadres, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) – online
  • Annick Starren, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) – online
  • Q&A (5’)

10:30 – 11:00 Project Outcomes: Key Findings & Lessons Learned (30’)

  • Presentation of AST Report Highlights – Greta Pozzo, Visionary Analytics
  • Q&A on key lessons and policy recommendations

11:00 – 11:15 Comfort Break (15’)

11:15 – 12:15 Anchoring Sustainability in Social Dialogue: Insights from Companies & Trade Unions (60’)

  • Sustainability & Green Economy – Florian Feillet, Orange
  • Technological Change & Digitalization – Marijo Kožić, HST
  • Skills for the twin transition – Lina Nardone, Digital SME
  • Q&A

12:15 – 12:30 Interactive Moment (15’)

12:30 – 14:00 Lunch Break (90’)
 

Afternoon Session

Chair: Odysseus Chatzidis, Deutsche Telekom/ver.di

14:00 – 15:00 Panel Discussion: How can Social Dialogue Drive ESG & Sustainability? (60’)

Moderator: Paolo Grassia, Connect Europe

  • Elke Maes, ACV-Puls
  • Jana Kovandzic-Pataky, Senior ESG Expert at A1 Group
  • Sigurt Vitols, ETUI – online
  • Q&A

15:00 – 15:15 Coffee Break (15’)

15:15 – 15:45 Joint Social Partner Declaration on Accelerating Sustainability in the Telecom Sector (30’)

  • Presentation of a joint declaration based on AST’s report recommendations – Grégory Gillet, BT Europe

15:45 – 16:00 Final Takeaways (15’) – Eva Zehetner, A1 Group

16:00 – 16:15 Closing Remarks (15’) – Ian McArdle, CWU Ireland

 

For more information about the event, please contact Fabiana Victoria Iovino, EU Project Manager at Connect Europe.